Sleep Duration In Children Research Articles

Longitudinal analysis of the bidirectional relationship between screen time and sleep: Exploring the role of physical activity.

Excessive screen time and poor sleep duration have significant implications for children's health and well-being. Understanding the dynamic relationship between screen time and sleep duration, as well as the impact of physical activity in this relationship, is essential for promoting healthy behaviours. The aims of this study were to: 1) investigate the bidirectional relationship between screen time and sleep duration in children, and 2) explore the mediating role of physical activity in these associations. Data were from 2064 children (47% girls) who responded to time-use diaries at waves 3 (age 5), 6 (age 10), and 7 (age 12) of the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (LSAC). Cross-lagged panel modelling was conducted to test bidirectional associations between screen time and sleep duration, with the mediating role of physical activity assessed using a lagged mediation model. A bidirectional association between screen time and sleep duration across ages 10 to 12 was observed. Screen time at 10 years of age was associated with sleep duration at 12 years of age (β=-0.071 [95%CI, -0.114 to -0.015]), and sleep duration at 10 years of age was associated with screen time at 12 years of age (β=-0.048 [95%CI, -0.087 to -0.002]). Moreover, increased levels of physical activity at age 12 reduced the negative impact of both screen time on sleep duration and sleep duration on screen time during the ages of 10 and 12. Findings highlight a cyclical influence where each factor impacts the other over time. Interventions aimed at reducing screen time and increasing physical activity may help mitigate the negative effects of excessive screen time on sleep.

Can the Urban Lifestyle Impact on Children BMI and Healthy Sleep?

This study aimed to (i) compare children's lifestyle by urbanization level and (ii) examine the association between children's body mass index (BMI) and the risk of having unhealthy sleep (American Academy of Pediatrics). Eight thousand one hundred fifty-nine children (4124 females) aged 6-9 years were observed and classified as urban or nonurban. Height and weight were measured, and the BMI was calculated. Sleep habits, sedentary behaviors (i.e., TV viewing, computer and electronic games use), and active play were assessed by questionnaire. One-way analysis of covariances (ANCOVAs) and logistic regression analysis were used, with adjustments to potential confounders. Urban males were significantly less active and spent more time in all sedentary activities than their nonurban peers during the week and the weekend. Urban girls spent significantly more time than their nonurban counterparts watching TV and playing electronic games. Furthermore, both urban and nonurban children with higher BMI had a relative higher risk of having unhealthy sleep duration. Findings revealed important associations between BMI and sleep duration in both urban and nonurban children. Place of residence has an important impact on weight status of this sample of children.

Bruxism associated with short sleep duration in children with autism spectrum disorder: The Japan Environment and Children's Study.

Bruxism, the involuntary activity of masticatory muscles, is common among individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Although bruxism is bidirectionally associated with sleep issues, whether an infant's sleep duration contributes to the development of bruxism remains unknown. In this study, a dataset (n = 83,720) obtained from the Japan Environment and Children's Study, a nationwide birth cohort study, was subjected to multiple imputations using logistic regression analysis with adjustments for several maternal and child-related variables. The aim of this study was to assess whether shorter sleep duration in the neonatal period additively affected the high prevalence of parent-reported bruxism (PRB) among children with ASD. The prevalences of ASD and PRB in the participants were 1.2% and 7.2%, respectively, and the odds ratio of the increased risk of PRB prevalence in individuals with ASD (95% confidence interval) was 1.59 (1.31-1.94) after covariate adjustments. Importantly, shorter sleep duration in the neonatal period (at one month of age) was significantly associated with an increased risk of PRB prevalence in individuals with ASD. The increased occurrence of bruxism, known to be highly prevalent among children with ASD, is associated with shorter sleep duration, particularly in the neonatal stage. Based on our results, a better understanding of the development of bruxism in individuals with ASD would provide valuable information for the prevention of oral diseases.

Association between excessive screen time and falls, with additional risk from insufficient sleep duration in children and adolescents, a large cross-sectional study in China.

Falls is a major global public health issue that occur in all age groups. However, the association between screen time, sleep duration and falls in children and adolescents remains unclear. This study included children and adolescents who participated in the 2017 Nutrition and Health Surveillance of Children and Lactating Mothers in China. Screen time, sleep duration and falls in the past 12 months were assessed using baseline questionnaires completed by the participants. We utilized a multivariate logistic regression model to estimate the association between screen time, sleep duration, and falls in children and adolescents. Stratified analyses and sensitivity analyses were performed using the same modelling strategies. A total of 564 participants (5.7%) self-reported falls in the past 12 months. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that high screen time (> 2 h per day) was associated with a higher incidence of falls (cOR:1.46, 95% CI: 1.22-1.74, p < 0.001). The combination of high screen time and low sleep duration was associated with an increased risk of falls compared to the recommended low screen time and high sleep duration group (cOR: 1.62, 95% CI: 1.25-2.09, p < 0.001). After adjusting for relevant covariates, the associations remained significant (aOR: 1.30, 95% CI: 1.08-1.56, p = 0.006; aOR: 1.43, 95% CI: 1.10-1.87, p = 0.008). Our study demonstrates that both high screen time and the combination of high screen time and low sleep duration were associated with an increased risk of falls. Interventions to promote healthy physical development should commence in early childhood to decrease the incidence of fall injuries in children and adolescents.

Genetically Supported Causality between Brain Structural Connectome and Sleep Duration in Children: A Two-Sample Mendelian Randomization Study.

Certain structural brain connections have been confirmed to influence sleep duration in children. However, the causal relationships between all brain regions and children's sleep duration remain unclear. A two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis was conducted using data from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) to examine the relationships between 206 structural connections and sleep duration in children. Sensitivity analyses were employed to validate the findings and assess the robustness of the causal inferences. Stronger connectivity from the left hemisphere (LH) control network to the accumbens (β = -0.15; 95% CI = [-0.30, -2.88 × 10-3]; p = 0.05) and from the LH somatomotor network to the LH default network (β = -0.18; 95% CI = [-0.34, -0.03]; p = 0.02) in white-matter structural connectivity (SC) were associated with shorter sleep durations. Conversely, increased white-matter SC from the LH dorsal attention network to the thalamus (β = 0.14; 95% CI = [8.45 × 10-4, 0.27]; p = 0.05), from the right hemisphere (RH) control network to the thalamus (β = 0.10; 95% CI = [0.01, 0.19]; p = 0.03), from the RH default network to the thalamus (β = 0.08; 95% CI = [4.53 × 10-3, 0.16]; p = 0.04), from the RH limbic network to the thalamus (β = 0.15; 95% CI = [0.05, 0.26]; p = 3.77 × 10-3), and from the RH somatomotor network to the thalamus (β = 0.20; 95% CI = [0.07, 0.32]; p = 1.63 × 10-3) correlated with longer sleep durations in children. Two-sample Mendelian randomization provides novel insights into the relationships between brain regions and sleep duration in children. Our findings demonstrate a causal relationship between specific brain areas and sleep duration.

ABC Grow Healthy Practices and Obesity-Related Health Behaviours in Family Child Care Homes in South Carolina.

Many states throughout the United States have introduced Quality Rating and Improvement Systems (QRIS) to address childhood obesity in preschool-age children, but few have examined the impact of these standards in Family Child Care Homes (FCCHs). In South Carolina, the ABC Grow Healthy Practices are specific QRIS items that include diet, physical activity and sleep practices. The purposes of this cross-sectional study are to (1) describe physical activity levels, sleep duration and diet quality of children attending FCCHs in South Carolina and (2) compare physical activity levels, sleep duration and diet quality between children attending FCCHs that were enrolled versus not enrolled in the ABC programme. Means and percentages were used to summarize child- and parent-level descriptive characteristics, physical activity levels, diet quality and sleep behaviours overall and by sex, race/ethnicity and ABC participation. t tests and chi-square analyses were used to compare child- and parent-level demographic characteristics as well as child-level behaviours by ABC status. Results revealed low physical activity levels (11.2 ± 4.1 min/h of total physical activity and 5.5 ± 2.6 min/h of moderate and vigorous physical activity) and poor diet quality (Healthy Eating Index 56.0 ± 10.3) in all children. There were statistically significant differences in fat and protein consumption between ABC and non-ABC FCCHs, as well as differences in demographic characteristics. Future research is recommended to assess whether strengthening guidelines and improving implementation of obesity prevention standards will improve physical activity levels and diets of children attending FCCHs.

A137: Meeting 24-Hour Movement Guidelines and Affect Balance in Children and Adolescents

Background/Purpose: The Canadian 24-hour movement guidelines recommend an adequate level of physical activity, a limited amount of recreational screen time use, and sufficient sleep duration for children and adolescents. Affect balance is essential for children and adolescents’ physical health, psychological health, academic achievement and long-term development. Daily movement behaviors have been shown to influence affect balance with limited research. Whether and how meeting 24-hour movement guidelines relates to affect balance remains unclear. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between meeting 24-hour movement guidelines and affect balance, and to explore the mediating effects of executive function and cognitive reappraisal. Method: A total of 530 Chinese children and adolescents with a mean age of 12.95 years (49.81% males) participated in this study. The three components of 24-hour movement behaviors (physical activity, recreational screen time, and sleep) were measured and coded respectively according to guideline recommendations. Meeting 24-hour movement guidelines was handled in terms of continuous variable (0 vs. 1 vs. 2 vs. 3). Participants also completed the Positive and Negative Affect Scale, the Adolescent Executive Function Scale, and the Emotional Regulation Questionnaire. SPSS 26.0 was used for descriptive statistics, univariate analysis of variance and correlation analysis of relevant data. The Hayes’ PROCESS 3.3 macro was used to examine direct and indirect effects between variables. Results: Meeting 24-hour movement guidelines showed a significant and positive association with affect balance (β = 1.413, p = 0.036). Executive function played a mediating effect between meeting 24-hour movement guidelines and affect balance (effect = 1.275, 95% CI: 0.486−2.083). Furthermore, executive function and cognitive reappraisal played sequential mediating effects between meeting 24-hour movement guidelines and affect balance (effect = 0.158, 95% CI: 0.052−0.299). The total indirect effects of execution function and cognitive reappraisal accounted for 55.84% of the total. Conclusion/Discussion: Meeting 24-hour movement guidelines promoted affect balance in children and adolescents by influencing executive function and through the sequential mediating effects of executive function and cognitive reappraisal. This study moved beyond prior research and provided a more comprehensive understanding of whether and how meeting 24-hour movement guidelines relates to affect balance. It also provided some enlightenment for the daily behavior management of children and adolescents. Measures should be taken to improve moderate to vigorous physical activity, ensure adequate sleep, and reduce recreational screen time to maintain children and adolescents’ affect balance.

Evaluation of sleep health in children with congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency.

Literature on sleep health in children with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) is sparse despite the important role the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis plays in sleep onset, duration, and awakenings after sleep onset. To evaluate sleep health in children and adolescents with CAH as measured by wrist actigraphy and validated sleep questionnaires. Cross-sectional study at our multidisciplinary CAH clinic. Participants aged 3-18 years with classic CAH wore an ActiGraph GT3X+ accelerometer for one week. Children and parents completed sleep questionnaires and the results were compared to published samples from the community and children with sleep disorders (clinical). Actigraphy sleep health measures were compared to consensus sleep duration recommendations and normative data in healthy children. Forty-four participants (23 males) with CAH completed the study. Actigraphy found sleep duration in children with CAH was less than recommended guidelines with significantly worse sleep efficiency and increased wake after sleep onset (p<0.05) compared to healthy children. After sleep onset, the average number of awakenings increased from 1.67 per hour during the first two hours post evening hydrocortisone dose to 3.12 per hour 4 to 7 hours post dose, corresponding with washout of the evening hydrocortisone dose. Parents of 3-10-year-olds reported significantly worse sleep onset delay and decreased sleep duration than both the community and clinical samples, and significantly more night awakenings than the community sample. Our findings suggest that sleep health is impaired in children with CAH and is an important consideration for both clinical practice and future research.

Are the Sleep-Wake Cycle and Sleep Duration Ethnically Determined? A Comparison of Tibetan and Japanese Children's Sleep.

Several environmental factors affect sleep. We investigated the sleep and sleep-related habits of preschool children living in Tibet and conducted an international comparison with those in Japan. We conducted a community-based cross-sectional study using the Chinese version of the Japanese Sleep Questionnaire for Preschoolers (JSQ-P-C) and compared the results with previous data on Japanese children. The sleep status of 3113 children aged 3-6 years old in Qinghai province was evaluated. The average wake time and bedtime of the Tibetan children were 7:20 ± 0:31 and 21:16 ± 0:43, respectively. Their mean nocturnal sleep duration was 10.0 ± 0.7 h. In comparing 3-year-old children, the time for which they viewed TV in Tibet was shorter (65.5 ± 44.6 min) than that in Japan (149.7 ± 76.6 min), and the mother's bedtime was earlier in Tibet (21:28 ± 2:14) than in Japan (23:20 ± 1:05). However, the bedtime and sleep duration of the Tibetan children (21:17 ± 0:37 and 10.0 ± 0.7 h) were fairly similar to those of the Japanese children (21:24 ± 1:57 and 9.8 ± 0.8 h). The late bedtime and short nocturnal sleep duration of Tibetan toddlers were the same as those of Japanese toddlers despite considerable differences in their lifestyle and environment.

Association between screen time, homework and reading duration, sleep duration, social jetlag and mental health among Chinese children and adolescents

ObjectivesTo examine the associations of screen time, homework and reading duration, sleep duration, social jetlag with mental health in children and adolescents, as well as its gender differences.MethodsFrom December 2023 to April 2024, a total of 62 395 children and adolescents were selected from 51 schools in 17 cities of China by stratified cluster sampling. Screen time, homework and reading duration, sleep duration, and social jetlag were calculated by answering the questions about watching TV time, playing smartphones time, doing homework time, reading extracurricular books time, bedtime, wake-up time, and nap time during weekdays and weekends. Mental health was assessed by the Revised Mental Health Inventory-5 (MHI-5). The generalized linear model was used to determine the association between screen time, homework and reading duration, sleep duration, social jetlag, and mental health in children and adolescents.ResultsThe generalized linear model results showed that longer watching TV time, longer playing smartphones time, longer homework time, and greater social jetlag were correlated with poorer mental health in children and adolescents, while longer nighttime sleep duration, and longer daytime nap duration were correlated with better mental health. Moreover, in primary school and junior high school, we found that this association was stronger during the weekdays. However, in senior high school, this association was stronger during the weekends. After according to gender stratified, we found that the strength of this association was different in boys and girls at different study phases. Furthermore, our findings also revealed a significant quadratic relationship, indicating the association of better mental health with an optimal amount of sleep duration.ConclusionsThere was a significant association between screen time, homework and reading duration, sleep duration, social jetlag, and mental health in children and adolescents. This study has the potential to offer useful insights for the prevention and control of mental health issues in children and adolescents.

Exploring the interplay between outdoor activity, sleep duration and myopia in Chinese children: implications for public health strategies.

Exploring the interplay between outdoor activity, sleep duration and myopia in Chinese children: implications for public health strategies.

Latent profiles of multi-dimensional sleep characteristics and association with overweight/obesity in Chinese preschool children

ObjectivesTo examine the association between latent profiles of multi-dimensional sleep characteristics and overweight/obesity (OWO) in Chinese preschool children. Study designThe cross-sectional analysis included 3204 preschool children recruited from 24 kindergartens in Shanghai. Parents reported children's demographics and sleep characteristics, including sleep duration, timing and disturbances. Latent profile analysis (LPA) was used to identify sleep subtypes. Logistic regression models were used to evaluate the associations between sleep characteristics/subtypes and OWO. ResultsShort sleep duration, late bedtime, long social jetlag and sleep disturbances were significantly associated with increased OWO. However, when considering the interplay of sleep duration and timing, there was no significant association between sleep duration and OWO for children sleeping later than 22:00. Three sleep subtypes were identified based on children's sleep duration, timing and disturbances: "Average Sleepers" (n = 2107, 65.8 %), "Good Sleepers" (n = 481, 15.0 %), and "Poor Sleepers" (n = 616, 19.2 %). "Good Sleepers" had reduced odds of being OWO (AOR, 0.72; 95 % CI, 0.56–0.93) compared to "Average Sleepers", while "Poor Sleepers" showed an increased risk of OWO (AOR, 1.36; 95 % CI, 1.11–1.67). ConclusionsThese findings highlight that improving multiple sleep characteristics simultaneously is a promising option to prevent and intervene childhood obesity.

An Investigation into Sleep Habits in Obese Children

Aim: This study aims to reveal the extent to which sleep habits differ between obese children and healthy children. Materıal And Method: In this study, 236 obese children and adolescents, aged 8-17, who we were followed up in our clinic, and 114 children and adolescents who applied to the child health and diseases outpatient clinic for various reasons participated. All participants in the present study underwent an assessment of sleep habits in children using face-to-face interviews. The evaluation included 33 questions regarding bedtimes, sleep behavior, instances of waking up during the night, getting up in the morning, and daytime sleepiness. Results: There was no statistically significant difference in age and gender characteristics between the patient and control groups. The sleep duration for obese children was 6.44±1.3 hours, compared to 6.31±1.29 hours in the control group (P=0.426). No statistical difference was observed in the components assessing sleep habits between the patient and control groups. Regarding the evaluation, only the obese patient group, no statistical difference was found between the sleep duration of girls and boys, respectively; 6.41±1.41, 6.5±1.07) (P=0.603). Conclusion: Our findings indicate that there are no significant differences in sleep habits between obese children and healthy children. However, in the literature, some studies reported that different parameters, such as age, pubertal status, timing of sleep and eating behaviors, and sleep duration (or restriction), can affect the relationship between sleep and obesity. Therefore, longitudinal and experimental studies with children are needed to determine the nature of the relationships between sleep and obesity in children.

Bedsharing sleep characteristics in children with mild sleep-disordered breathing.

Examine sleep patterns in children with sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) who habitually bedshare. We evaluated associations of bedsharing with parent-reported (n = 457) and actigraphy-based (n = 258) sleep patterns in a diverse child sample (mean age 6.6 ± 2.3 years, range 3.0-12.9) with mild SDB using baseline data from the Pediatric Adenotonsillectomy Trial for Snoring. Multivariable linear regressions examined associations between sleep patterns and bedsharing, adjusting for sociodemographic, child, and parent/environmental factors. Moderation effects were investigated using interaction terms. Analyses were stratified by age, categorizing children as younger (< 6) and older (≥ 6) years. Bedsharing rates were 38%, with higher rates in younger (48%) vs older (30%) children (P < .001). In adjusted models, bedsharing was associated with about 30 minutes shorter actigraphy-derived nocturnal sleep duration (P = .005) and parent-reported later sleep midpoint (P < .005) in younger children. In older children, associations of bedsharing with shorter parent-reported sleep duration were more pronounced in children with greater SDB symptom burden (P = .02), and in children with higher ratings of anxiety (P = .048) and depressive symptoms (P = .02). In children with mild SDB, bedsharing is associated with shorter sleep duration and later sleep timing in younger children. In older children, these relationships were modified by child factors, including SDB symptom burden and internalizing symptoms. These findings suggest that whereas age and parenting factors may play a greater role in the younger group, SDB and internalizing symptoms may play more of a role in older children who bedshare, suggesting the need to address co-occurring medical and emotional problems in children with SDB. Registry: ClinicalTrials.gov; Name: Pediatric Adenotonsillectomy for Snoring (PATS); URL: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT02562040; Identifier: NCT02562040. Ibrahim S, Ievers-Landis CE, Taylor HG, etal. Bedsharing sleep characteristics in children with mild sleep-disordered breathing. J Clin Sleep Med. 2025;21(2):237-247.

Bidirectional associations between sleep and anxiety among Chinese schoolchildren before and after the COVID-19 lockdown

The COVID-19 pandemic has critical implications for mental health in children. This study examined how the COVID-19 lockdown affected sleep duration and anxiety symptoms in Chinese school-aged children and the bidirectional association between sleep and anxiety before and during the COVID-19 lockdown. A school-based longitudinal cohort study was conducted to examine the relationship between sleep duration and anxiety scores before and after the COVID-19 lockdown from January to May 2020. Generalized estimating equations model was used to identify variables that contributed to the changes in sleep duration. The bidirectional relationship between sleep duration and anxiety symptoms was explored by cross-lagged analysis. 7681 children completed two waves of surveys were included in the analysis. The daily exercise duration, anxiety symptoms, and sleep duration decreased significantly during the lockdown compared with that before the lockdown. Based on generalized estimating equations model, older age, secondary school, and higher anxiety scores of participants were positively associated with sleep duration, while female and no COVID-19 infection history were negatively associated with it. Cross-lagged analysis showed higher anxiety score of children before the lockdown was significantly associated with shorter sleep duration during the lockdown; and shorter sleep duration of children before the lockdown was also significantly associated with a higher anxiety score during the lockdown. Under the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, there were longitudinal, bidirectional associations between children’s anxiety symptoms and sleep duration. For school students, mental health services and sleep education should be considered in the daily health education curriculum.

Gender Difference of the Association Between Sleep Duration and Myopia Among Children and Adolescents.

With girls typically exhibiting higher rates of myopia than boys, however, the mechanisms behind this gender difference remain unclear. This study aims to investigate the gender disparities in the relationship between myopia, sleep duration, physical activity, and BMI. A total of 3138 primary and secondary school students were included. Mplus 8.3 was used to perform the multiple mediation analysis. Sleep duration was indicated to directly affect myopia (β=0.273, 95% CI=0.184-0.356) and through physical activity, BMI, physical activity and BMI three significantly mediation pathways, respectively. In terms of gender, the mediating direct effect of sleep duration on myopia of boys was 66.96%, which is much higher than that of girls' 50.91%. And the mediating indirect effect of sleep duration on myopia through physical activity and BMI are 32.65% and 12.10% respectively among girls, both of which are significantly higher than that of boys. The study found that there are significant differences in the impact of sleep duration on myopia in children and adolescents of different genders. In this regard, while paying attention to the sleep duration of children and adolescents, special attention should also be paid to the indirect impact of girls' physical activity and BMI on myopia, and targeted measures should be formulated according to children of different genders to effectively protect the eye health of children and adolescents.

Sleep problems and duration in school-aged children at different levels of giftedness

ObjectivesOptimal sleep is crucial for developing and maintaining gifted children's cognitive abilities. However, only a few studies have explored the sleep profiles of gifted children and overlooked their internal variations. This study aimed to investigate subjective and object sleep profiles in school-aged gifted children with different levels of giftedness. MethodsThis study included 80 school-aged children (50 % male) aged 6–11 years. Giftedness was assessed using the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Fourth Edition (WISC-IV). Subjective and objective sleep were evaluated using the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ) and Actiwatch 2. ResultsThe sample was divided into three groups based on their full scale intelligence quotient (IQ): 16 typically developing children (IQ < 130), 38 moderately gifted children (IQ: 130–145), and 26 highly gifted children (IQ > 145). The highly gifted children had the mildest sleep problems, particularly in sleep duration and daytime sleepiness. Moderately gifted children had the shortest subjective average sleep duration, while the three groups had no significant differences in Actiwatch-measured sleep variables. Furthermore, CSHQ total and daytime sleepiness subscale scores were negatively associated with the full scale IQ in gifted children after controlling for confounders including emotional and behavioral problems. ConclusionsChildren with higher levels of giftedness experience fewer subjective sleep problems but have similar objective sleep parameters. It is imperative to implement tailored sleep strategies for fostering intellectual development and nurturing young talents.

Predictors of children's headaches during the second COVID-19 pandemic wave in the country with long-lasting lockdown.

The current study examined the links and interactions among headaches, screen-based media use, physical activity, sleep, and the family environment in Lithuanian school-aged children during the second COVID-19 lockdown. The study comprised data of 541 children aged 7-14 years from different Lithuania regions, and without chronic health conditions or developmental disorders. Information about the child was provided by their parents or caregivers who filled questionnaire on child's screen time, sleep duration and quality, physical activity, parental distress, parent-child relationship, history of child's headaches and infectious diseases. During the study period, 54% of the children had headaches, and the frequency was positively associated with child's age, screen time and parental distress, as well as negatively related to physical activity (PA), sleep quality, and the parent-child relationship. Parental education was related to child's PA, screen time and sleep quality. The results of binary logistic regression analysis and path analysis revealed that sleep quality and parental distress were significant predictors of headaches in children. Family and child or adolescent education and lifestyle modification aiming to improve sleep hygiene and PA, and to reduce screen-based sedentary behaviour should be provided. Family centred approach for more effective coping with distress and improvement of parent-child relationship is also important in treating child and adolescent headache.

Impact of adverse childhood experiences and family resilience on sleep duration in autistic children.

Autistic children are more likely to have sleep difficulties and to experience adverse childhood experiences. Adverse childhood experiences can include parental divorce, bullying, or witnessing violence. We also know that children in families who are resilient (e.g. families who are connected, work together, and help each other) are less impacted by adverse childhood experiences. Our study examined whether there was a relationship between adverse childhood experiences and sleep duration in autistic children. We also wanted to find out whether family resilience protects from the negative impact of adverse childhood experiences on sleep duration. We used data from 3247 parent surveys about their children that we got from the National Survey of Children's Health. We found that children with adverse childhood experiences are more likely to get less sleep. We also found that children with resilient families were more likely to get more sleep. Our results show that family resilience helps weaken the relationship between adverse childhood experiences and sleep, so it is important to help families build resilience.

Role of Inflammation in Short Sleep Duration Across Childhood and Psychosis in Young Adulthood

Short sleep duration over a prolonged period in childhood could have a detrimental impact on long-term mental health, including the development of psychosis. Further, potential underlying mechanisms of these associations remain unknown. To examine the association between persistent shorter nighttime sleep duration throughout childhood with psychotic experiences (PEs) and/or psychotic disorder (PD) at age 24 years and whether inflammatory markers (C-reactive protein [CRP] and interleukin 6 [IL-6]) potentially mediate any association. This cohort study used data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children. Data analysis was conducted from January 30 to August 1, 2023. Nighttime sleep duration was collected at 6, 18, and 30 months and at 3.5, 4 to 5, 5 to 6, and 6 to 7 years. PEs and PD were assessed at age 24 years from the Psychosislike Symptoms Interview. CRP level at ages 9 and 15 years and IL-6 level at 9 years were used as mediators. Latent class growth analyses (LCGAs) were applied to detect trajectories of nighttime sleep duration, and logistic regressions were applied for the longitudinal associations between trajectories of nighttime sleep duration and psychotic outcomes at 24 years. Path analyses were applied to test CRP and IL-6 as potential mediators. Data were available on 12 394 children (6254 female [50.5%]) for the LCGA and on 3962 young adults (2429 female [61.3%]) for the logistic regression and path analyses. The LCGA identified a group of individuals with persistent shorter nighttime sleep duration across childhood. These individuals were more likely to develop PD (odds ratio [OR], 2.50; 95% CI, 1.51-4.15; P < .001) and PEs (OR, 3.64; 95% CI, 2.23-5.95; P < .001) at age 24 years. Increased levels of IL-6 at 9 years, but not CRP at 9 or 15 years, partially mediated the associations between persistent shorter sleep duration and PD (bias-corrected estimate = 0.003; 95% CI, 0.002-0.005; P = .007) and PEs (bias-corrected estimate = 0.002; 95% CI, 0-0.003; P = .03) in young adulthood. Findings of this cohort study highlight the necessity of addressing short sleep duration in children, as persistence of this sleep problem was associated with subsequent psychosis. This study also provides preliminary evidence for future targeted interventions in children addressing both sleep and inflammatory responses.